A Letter to Self: 35 Things for My 20 Year Old Self

Happy Thursday, my friends!! Today is my birthday! I can’t believe I’m 35! I told my brother last month, I can’t believe we are 36 (him) and 35 (me)!  How did we get here so fast!? It’s hard to comprehend that I’m official halfway to 40. I’ve always said age is just a number, but I do feel like tis birthday seems like a big one! I think it’s the first year that I actually feel a tad older. Life and kids will do that to you! Ha!! I wrote the original post the year I turned 30. It’s a letter of things that I wish I could go back and tell myself when I was a 20 year old because as you get older, life gives you so many lessons and puts so much perspective. I do wish I could back and tell myself these things, because I have always been such a planner and such a worrier. Looking back, I think I could’ve used this advice for so many different periods of life! Each year, I have decided to add one item that I have learned and wish that I could go back and tell myself at that age.

I turn 35 today and I’m usually ready to say goodbye to the previous year and ready to open the new year with open arms. 34 was good at times and hard at times. Such is life though, don’t you think? It’s hard to get older, it’s hard to watch your kids grow up. I’m sitting here with a 9 and 7 year old and truly can’t fathom how we got here this quickly. I keeping thinking it’s less than 10 years before both of my kids will be leaving for college. Honestly, I have to put that thought at the back of my mind, because, ugh, it’s too much! The first 9 and 7 years of their lives flew by and now here we are! Time truly does fly. Even faster after the second child, in my opinion. I’m grateful to be alive and feel blessed to have a wonderful life. I think as you get older, those are definitely the first thoughts every birthday and lets face it, those should be the first thoughts for every day though. Birthdays become such a non event as you get older. Why is that? I must admit, I do miss the big celebrations and all the fun that surrounded birthdays, but at the same time, I am also okay with it being low-key and non eventful. Ha! I am really trying to celebrate this year, though, because every birthday is something to be celebrated! 34 was another year of change, lessons and lots of joy. Life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows and all the stuff in between. I’m thankful to have had another year to experience all these things and I truly feel like I have learned a lot in the past year and am looking forward to what God has in store for me in my 35th year!

Here is my Letter to Self:

Dear Me,

1. Don’t worry so much because, I promise you what lies ahead is way better than you could ever imagine.

2. Do what you love. Even if no one supports you. The people who love you and believe in you will support you in every endeavor.

3. You will be set up on a blind date and you will end up marrying that amazing godly man.

4. He will be your biggest supporter and your best friend. When I say biggest supporter, I mean it. He will cheer you on in anything you chose to do.

5. Dance like no one is watching. Ignore the people who laugh at your dance moves. Just enjoy yourself and have fun. That’s all that matters.

6. Pray without ceasing.

7. Always follow YOUR dreams.

8. Never let anyone bully you and guilt you into staying in their life. If it’s not working for you, then it’s just not and you don’t owe an explanation.

9. True friends are just that, true friends. You will only get a few in your lifetime, but they will be there for you always.

10. Do the things you want to do. The time wasted sitting around making excuses as to why you can’t do them, is time that could have been used doing said things.

11. Being a mom will be the hardest and most rewarding job ever. It’s never easy but it will be the best thing you’ll ever do.

12. You will do nothing with your college major. You will spend lots of years wondering if you should have and that’s okay because you still can.

13. You will move all over the place in the next ten years and you will have some great experiences and meet some amazing people.

14. You will teach yourself lots of new skills that you’ve always wanted to learn.

15. You and your sister will have kids around the same ages and this will be one of the greatest things. Seeing them all interact with each other and seeing how they love each other so much will be priceless.

16. Do not put so much stock in what certain people think of you. There will always be certain people trying to bring you down. Hold your head high and “keep on keeping on.”

17. Lots of amazing things will happen and also lots of tragic and tough things will happen. Remember to hold onto your faith. It’s hard at times, but knowing there is someone out there with a plan for YOU and YOUR life, will get you through.

18. You will always love pink and glitter. (duh)

19. You will begin watching the show Frasier and you will watch it every night and it will be key in helping you fall asleep.

20. You will always laugh a lot…even through the hard times.

21. You will always struggle not taking things to heart, whether it be an attack on you personally or an attack on your business. It will always be hard for you, but remember that you have lots of people cheering for you. They are who matter.

22. ALWAYS trust your instincts. More often than not, they will be right.

23. Always trust your mom’s instincts too. She has been right about soooo many things!

24. It’s okay to cry. Most times, after a good cry, you’ll feel better.

25. Eat dessert. Eat cheeseburgers. Life is too short to count calories constantly.

26. People will let you down. That’s just part of life.

27. Even on the hardest day when you think you can’t take anymore, remember to be thankful for ALL your blessings.

28. Always take lots of pictures even if it makes your hubby crazy! 🙂

29. Treat each day like a special occasion.

30. Don’t let fear control you.

ps…Wear sunscreen. Seriously, get in the habit now…it’s a good one.

Added August 23 2014 

31. Moving is hard. Duh. You will realize (and remember from when you were growing up) that no matter where you are, what city or state you live in, as long as you are with your immediate family (though you’ll miss the parents, sibs, friends and grandparents like crazy), you are home and you’ll be okay. Some days will be harder than others and you’ll wish you were somewhere else, but take heart, better days are coming.

ps…read number 16. and number 21. like a million times. There will come times that you’ll need that advice a lot.

Added August 23 2015 (two this year) 

32. Make time for friends and family. Community is one of those things that everyone needs. You might not think you need it at times, but you do. You really do. Even when you’re not feeling your best, these are the people that love you no matter what. They love you through it all. Let them be there for you through the good, but also the bad, because that is when you need it most.

32.5 It’s okay to admit that you made a mistake and move on from that. Do NOT worry about people’s opinions about it, either. In the end, you and your husband know what’s best for your family and that is what really matters.

Added August 23 2016

33. You may not understand or even comprehend the reason for your season and the path you are walking, but eventually, it will become clear and all the difficulties and struggles will be understood. It could take days, months or even years, but in the end, you just have to trust that God has your path completely planned out and that you are exactly where you are meant to be at this exact moment. Hard to do, but just try to trust that you are where you are meant to be.

Added August 23 2017

34. Each thing, good or bad helps you to learn and grow and helps to transform you into who God has planned for you to be. Sometimes its easy and sometimes it’s hard, but, you are truly always in the exact place that you are meant to be. I can’t remind you of that fact, enough! Never forget Jeremiah 29:11. That will always be one of the verses that you repeat in your head on a daily basis. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11

Added August 23 2018

35. Life is what you make it. Sometimes, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what you’re feeling, you just have to look for and choose JOY.

Love,

Me